Gaming device and method for playing a game

ABSTRACT

In a gaming apparatus, a player places a wager and plays a game. A game controller determines an outcome for the game and controls a display to represent the game outcome. If the game outcome is a winning game outcome, the game controller controls the display to display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of spaces on a game board. Primary winning combinations are indicated and corresponding prizes are awarded before clearing those symbols from the game board. The remaining symbols are then redistributed and prizes for any secondary winning combinations may be indicated and awarded. The process of clearing the symbols, redistributing and determining winning combinations may continue for a predetermined number of redistributions, until all the symbols have been cleared, or until no more winning combinations are formed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/260,816, filed Nov. 12, 2009, the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming systems and devices and in particular to gaming systems providing a matching symbols game display.

BACKGROUND

Gaming devices are well known in the art and a large variety of gaming devices have been developed. In general, gaming devices allow users or players to play a game. In many casino-type gaming devices, the outcome of the game depends, at least in part, on a randomly generated event. For example, a gaming device may use a random number generator to generate a random or pseudo-random number (hereinafter, both types are referred to as a “random number”).

The random number can be used to determine a game outcome. For example, the random number may then be compared to a predefined table to determine a corresponding outcome of the event. If the random number falls within a certain range of numbers on the table, the player may win the corresponding predefined prize. The table may also contain display information that allows the gaming device to generate a display that corresponds to the outcome of the game. The gaming device may present the outcome of the game on a large variety of display devices, such as mechanical spinning reels or video screens.

Some gaming devices award bonus prizes in addition to prizes that are awarded in a primary game. Of course, the prize in the primary game may simply be the opportunity to play the bonus game. A bonus prize is generally defined as a prize in addition to the prize obtained from the primary game and that is awarded to the player when a predefined event occurs. An example of a bonus game can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,932 to Adams. Adams discloses a primary game having three spinning game reels and a bonus game having a bonus display with one spinning wheel. The spinning wheel is divided into multiple sections, and each section has a symbol representing a prize. When predetermined indicia are displayed on the spinning game reels of the primary game, the wheel of the bonus display spins and stops. The bonus prize is displayed as the symbol on the wheel being pointed to by a pointer. The bonus prize is awarded in addition to any prizes awarded in the primary game. Another bonus game is disclosed in Baerlocher et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,863). Baerlocher et al. discloses a slot machine with a bonus award display. The bonus award display has a bonus wheel and a mechanical, movable pointer.

In other bonus game systems, bonus awards may be provided as a multiplier which multiplies the winnings of the primary game by an amount determined in the bonus game.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Advantages

The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:

provide a highly attractive and entertaining device for conducting games;

provide a highly attractive and entertaining bonus game display;

the ability to attract more patrons to play a game;

the ability to encourage players to play longer on a gaming apparatus;

provide a display that allows a player to predict an imminent game outcome, thereby building a player's excitement and level of interactivity; and

provide an additional element of anticipation and excitement for players.

These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and/or abstract.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a gaming device comprising a game controller and a game display. The gaming device allows a player to place a wager and to play a game. The game controller may determine a game outcome and control the game display to display an arrangement of symbols on the game display that represents the game outcome. The symbols may be allocated to the game display from an available symbol set. The game controller may arrange a winning combination of symbols on the game display. An award for any winning combinations of symbols may be allocated and then the symbols that form the winning combination of symbols may be cleared from the game display. The game controller may then redistribute the remaining symbols and allocate awards for any further winning combinations that are displayed as a result of the redistribution. The process of clearing the winning symbols from the game display and redistributing the remaining symbols may continue until all the symbols have been cleared or no more winning combinations are formed.

The redistribution of the symbols may be performed according to predetermined rules that allow a player to predict an outcome from the redistribution.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for playing a game of a gaming device. The method may comprise allocating one or more symbols to a plurality of spaces on a game board. Combinations of symbols may form a winning combination for which an award may be allocated. Symbols used for winning combinations may be cleared from the game board and at least one redistribution of the symbols may be performed. Awards for one or more winning combinations made during the at least one redistribution of the symbols may be allocated.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a gaming apparatus comprising means for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game and means for randomly determining a game outcome. Display means may be provided for indicating the game outcome, including displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of spaces on a game board and indicating one or more primary winning combinations of symbols. Once the primary winning combinations are indicated, the respective symbols may be cleared from the game board and the remaining symbols may be redistributed before indicating any secondary winning combinations. The gaming apparatus may further include means for awarding a prize to the player that correlates to the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols and any secondary winning combinations of symbols.

The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is substantially a schematic view of a network of gaming devices;

FIG. 2 is substantially a schematic view of a gaming device including a bonus game display;

FIG. 3 substantially depicts a bonus game display in accordance with one embodiment of the invention at an initial state;

FIG. 4 substantially depicts a method for playing a bonus game;

FIG. 5 substantially depicts the bonus game display of FIG. 3 after winning combinations of tiles have been removed;

FIG. 6 substantially depicts the bonus game display of FIG. 5 after a redistribution of the remaining tiles;

FIG. 7 substantially depicts the bonus game display of FIG. 6 after a clearing and redistribution process; and

FIG. 8 substantially depicts an embodiment of a gaming device with a bonus game display.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention comprises a gaming device for a gaming system. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 10 comprises at least one gaming device 12 that is configured to allow players to places wagers and play a game. Multiple gaming devices 12 may be networked within an establishment or within several establishments as is known in the art. An example of a gaming device 12, shown in more detail in FIG. 2, includes a coin slot 11 for receiving wagers such as coins or tokens and a payout slot 13 through which winnings may be paid. A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the gaming device 12 is illustrative only and that many variants may be made. For example, the gaming device 12 may be configured to receive bills, casino tokens, credit cards or many other forms of payment. Similarly, winnings may be paid by tokens, tickets, credit or through other facilities of the gaming establishment.

A game display 15 displays a game outcome. The game display may include mechanical spinning reels, video reels, a poker card display or any other suitable game display apparent to the person skilled in the art. Additional displays 14 may display further game information, such as a progressive jackpot total. The game device 12 may also include a bonus game display 16 that may allow the player to play a bonus game or to receive bonus game information such as a bonus game outcome. The bonus game display 16 may be a display specifically configured for a particular bonus game. Alternatively the bonus game display may be a generic game display that can be configured by a game server using known server based game techniques. Details of bonus games that can be played using the bonus game display 16 will be described in greater detail below.

If server based gaming techniques are to be used, the gaming devices 12 may be operatively associated with a server 20, which may include components such as a processor 21, memory 22 and random number generator 23. While the random number generator 23 is shown as a distinct component, a person skilled in the art will readily understand that the random number generator 23 may be embodied within the processor 21. The server 20 may be provided within the vicinity of the gaming devices 12 or may be provided elsewhere in the gaming establishment and communicate with the gaming devices 12 through a communication link (not shown), as is known. In an alternative embodiment, the gaming device 12 may be self-contained such that the functions of the server, in particular the memory 22 and the random number generator 23, are provided from within the gaming device 12.

The control of a bonus game may be governed by a bonus game controller which may be the processor 21 at the server 20, a dedicated bonus game controller 24 at the server 20, or by a similar processor or bonus game controller within the gaming device 12.

Each of the gaming devices 12 are configured to operate a game program that allows players to place wagers and play games. The server 20 may store game programs and information, for example in memory 22, which can be downloaded to the gaming devices 12 and gaming devices 12 may transmit information to the server 20. A gaming device 12 may offer a plurality of different games. When a player selects one of the games, the selected game may be downloaded from the server 20 along with game related information, such as pay tables which may also be stored in memory 22. Pay tables are used to determine the outcome of each game and they control the odds of winning a game and the amounts paid out. The gaming devices 12 that form the network 10 may be in one location, such as a casino, or they may be in multiple locations such as an extended casino.

In one example of a typically gaming machine operation, when a player advances a wager and initiates a game, the random number generator 23 generates a random number which is then compared to the pay table to determine the gaming outcome. The display 15 is controlled to create a display, such as a combination of reels, that reflects the game outcome. As is known in the art, certain outcomes on a primary game of the gaming device 12 may trigger entry to a bonus game. An example of a bonus game is illustrated in FIG. 3.

A bonus game controller may control the bonus game display 16 to depict a game board 30 on a suitable display device, such as a video screen. In the embodiment depicted, the video game board 30 is a 4×4 grid. The bonus game also includes a plurality of video tiles, e.g. tile 31 that displays a fishbone symbol. The tiles are displayed in the grid spaces of the game board 30. A bonus game meter 37 may display various amounts won during the bonus game as will be described below.

A method for playing the bonus game is shown in the flowchart 100 of FIG. 4. At step 101, a bonus game outcome is determined, e.g. by the bonus game controller. The bonus game controller then controls the bonus game display 30 to represent the bonus game outcome. At step 102, the bonus game outcome is represented by allocating symbol tiles into the grid positions. If any winning combinations of tiles are present (step 103), then an award is allocated (step 104) and optionally the bonus game meter 37 may be updated at this time. As will be described below, winning combinations may include adjacent matching symbols, particular patterns of matching symbols and/or certain combinations of non-matching symbols. The winning combinations may be established by a bonus game pay table (not shown). At step 105, the tiles used for a winning combination are deleted from the game board and the remaining tiles are redistributed (step 106). Different methods for redistributing the tiles are described in detail below. The process 100 then returns to step 103 to determine whether any further winning combinations of tiles are present in the redistributed tile set. Once no winning combinations are present, the accumulated bonus award total is paid out (step 107) and the bonus game completes.

The method 100 of FIG. 4 will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7. Once the bonus game is activated from the primary game, a random number is generated that allocates to the player a certain number of spins of the game board. In one embodiment, the number of spins may be randomly chosen between 5 and 12. A “spins remaining” tally 32 may be displayed on the bonus game board 30.

At the commencement of a spin, the bonus game controller determines a bonus game outcome according to probabilistic algorithms. The bonus game controller then allocates sixteen tiles into the 4×4 grid of the game board 30 to represent the game outcome. Once the game board is filled, matches are made and awards are allocated based on the number of matches per spin. A match may comprise a number of adjacent matching tiles. For example, the two adjacent money pot symbols in row two 38 of the game board may form a match. Similarly, the four adjacent cat symbols in row three 39 may form a match. Winning combinations may also comprise sets of non-matching tiles. In one embodiment, the symbol set from which tiles may be drawn may include four different colored cat symbols, each colored cat symbol representing a different cat character. All four cat symbols on a single row, in a single column, diagonal line or in a particular pattern, may constitute a winning combination.

In the embodiment shown, matches must be adjacent in a row such that the adjacent money pot symbols in column three 40 would not form a match. In alternative embodiments, matches may be made in many different ways, including horizontally, vertically, diagonally and where particular patterns are formed such as the corners of the grid, edges, cross arrangements, etc. The bonus award allocated to a set of matching tiles may be dependent on the particular arrangement. For example, the four matching cats symbols of row three 39 would pay a higher bonus award than the two matching money pot symbols in row two 38. Alternatively or in addition, certain symbols may pay a higher bonus award than other symbols. For example, matching cat symbols may pay double the award allocated to an equivalent number of other matching symbols.

The bonus game may indicate or announce any winning combinations, for example, by highlighting the matching tiles, flashing the matching tiles etc. Sound effects may also accompany the highlighting. As the matching tiles are announced, the match award meter 33 displays a bonus award amount paid for the matching tiles that are being highlighted. Concurrently, tallies in a total spin award meter 34 and a total bonus award meter 35 are updated by adding the bonus award amount paid for the matching tiles to the respective accumulative totals. In one embodiment, instead of indicating each winning combination of tiles individually, all winning combinations of tiles may be highlighted simultaneously so that the match award 33 displays a total for all winning combinations on the game board 30.

Once all of the matches have been announced and the awards for all the matching combinations have been allocated to the bonus game meter 37, the matching tiles disappear. The disappearance of the matching tiles may be accompanied by various graphic or visual effects. For example, visual effects may depict the matching tiles to fade, dissolve, spin, zoom, explode, etc. These visual effects may be provided with or without accompanying sound effects.

After the matching tiles have been removed, there will be gaps in the game board 30 and for the example presently described, the game board will appear as shown in FIG. 5. That is, row three 39 has been completely cleared and the money pot symbols of row two 38 have also been deleted. The remaining tiles may be redistributed on the game board. In one embodiment, the remaining tiles may cascade downwards as indicated by the arrows 51 in FIG. 5 so that any tiles above an empty position move downwards, thereby filling the empty positions below. In one alternative embodiment, the remaining tiles may be shuffled into the lowest order positions on the game board. Other methods for redistributing the remaining tiles will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and all methods for redistributing the tiles are intended to be encompassed herein. A redistribution of the symbols is preferably performed according to predetermined rules that allow a player to predict an outcome from the redistribution, thereby building a player's excitement and level of interactivity with the gaming device.

In the example described, the tiles fall downwards to fill empty spaces below, thereby creating the arrangement of tiles on the game board 30 as depicted in FIG. 6. Once the tiles have been redistributed, the bonus game controller may indicate any further matches that may also generate bonus awards. In the example of FIG. 6, row three 39 contains matching dog symbols. These secondary matches may represent further bonus award payments, allocated to the accumulative total spin award meter 34 and the total bonus game meter 35.

The process of clearing the winning combinations and redistributing the remaining tiles may continue for a predetermined number of redistributions, until no more matches can be made or the game board has been cleared of tiles. Once no more redistributions are possible, the spin is concluded. If the spin tally 32 indicates that more spins remain, then the game board 30 is cleared and a fresh set of tiles is dealt into the game board display 30 to reflect a game outcome for the next spin.

Where spaces appear in lower rows that cannot by filled from directly above, the bonus game controller may govern how these spaces are to be filled. FIG. 7 shows the game board 30 after matching, clearing and redistribution of tiles from the game board state of FIG. 6 has been performed. In this example, a spare space 71 is available in row three and a single tile 72 is provided in row two. In one embodiment, the redistribution rules may specify that tiles may only move directly downwards, such that the spaces and tiles would remain as shown in FIG. 7. In one embodiment, the spaces may be filled from any tile in a higher row, with various selection algorithms being used to select which of multiple higher row tiles are to be used. For example, a nearest tile may be selected, a highest tile may be selected, etc. In this case, the tile 72 would move to fill the space 71. In one embodiment, spaces may be filled by horizontal shuffling of the tiles. For example, the money pot and fish symbol tiles would shift left allowing the cat tile 72 to move downwards, thereby filling the row and allowing a greater number of possible winning combinations. Other arrangements for redistributing tiles and for filling any spare spaces would be apparent to the person skilled in the art and all such arrangements are intended to be encompassed herein.

Matches made after a redistribution may generate bonus awards at the same rate as for matches before the redistribution. For example, any match of two adjacent tiles may pay five credits, whether it is before or after a redistribution. In an alternative embodiment, matches made after a redistribution may pay at a higher or lower rate. For example, two adjacent matching tiles may pay five credits in the first (i.e. primary) dealing of the tiles. After redistribution, two equivalent adjacent matching tiles may pay a lower bonus award, e.g. four credits or a higher bonus award, e.g. six credits. The bonus award rate may change with each redistribution of the tiles until a spin is concluded. That is, secondary matches may pay at a higher or lower rate than primary matches, tertiary matches may pay at a higher or lower rate than secondary matches, and so on.

If enough matches to clear the game board are made during a spin, an additional bonus for that spin may be paid. The additional bonus award may be a fixed credit value, e.g. 100 credits, or the additional bonus award may be a multiplier of the spin total, e.g. 2×.

At the completion of the spins allocated to the player, the total winnings indicated in the bonus game total 35 are added to the player's gaming credits and the game state returns to a primary game state in which normal play of primary game is resumed. The bonus game total may be multiplied by the initiating line bet of the primary game.

While the bonus game board 30 depicted in FIG. 3 shows 16 tiles in a 4×4 grid, a greater or lesser number of tiles may be provided. Alternative grid arrangements such as diamond or rectangular grids may be used and the grid need not be symmetrical. Six individual symbols are shown in the example of FIG. 3, though the available tile set may include a greater or lesser number of unique tile symbols. The available tile set may be stored in a memory such as the memory 22 of the server 20, a memory of the gaming device 12 or may be stored in the bonus game controller 24. In addition, wild card symbols may be used that form a match with any adjacent tiles or certain ones of the tiles. For example, a first wild card may be a wild card in respect of the money pot tile and the dog tile only while a second wild card may be a wild card in respect of the fishbone symbol and the cherry symbol only.

In one embodiment, the game board may not be cleared at the conclusion of a spin, but instead, new tiles may be dealt into the vacant spaces of the game board. A new spin may also consist of replacing certain tiles on the game board with freshly allocated random tiles. Once the game board has been re-dealt, winning combinations may be indicated, winning tiles removed, and redistribution of the tiles may proceed as described above.

A specific example of a gaming device incorporating a bonus game as herein described is illustrated in FIG. 8. The gaming device 80 includes a primary game display 81 and bonus game display 82 of a type as herein described. The bonus feature may be initiated by three particular scattered symbols appearing on the primary game display 81. The player may be prompted to press a flashing button or similar to active the bonus game.

The specific examples and embodiments described herein make particular reference to the matching tile game as a bonus game. However, the person skilled in the art will readily understand that the matching tile game could be equally applied as a primary game of a gaming device.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by any appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given. 

1. A method for playing a game of a gaming device comprising: (A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game; (B) randomly determining a game outcome in a game controller; (C) controlling a display with the game controller to indicate the game outcome; (D) awarding a prize to the player that correlates to the game outcome; and (E) wherein, if the game outcome is a winning game outcome, controlling the display to indicate the game outcome comprises: (a) allocating one or more symbols to a plurality of spaces on a game board; (b) indicating one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; (c) allocating an award for the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; (d) clearing the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; (e) redistributing the remaining symbols on the game board; (f) indicating any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and (g) allocating an award for the secondary winning combinations of symbols.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising repeating the steps of clearing a winning combination of symbols and redistributing the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed.
 3. The method of claim 1 comprising performing a predetermined number of redistributions.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein a winning combination of symbols comprises adjacent matching symbols.
 5. The method of claim 1 comprising individually highlighting each winning combination of symbols.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein redistributing the symbols is performed according to predetermined rules.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein redistributing the symbols is performed by cascading the remaining symbols downwards into any available spaces.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein an award for a primary winning combination may be different to an award for a secondary winning combination.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the game comprises a bonus game, wherein a plurality of turns of the bonus game are awarded to the player, and wherein the game board is cleared of symbols between each turn.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the game comprises a bonus game, wherein a plurality of turns of the bonus game are awarded to the player, and wherein the game board is not cleared of symbols between each turn.
 11. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) a gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance; (B) a game display; and (C) a game controller in communication with the gaming device and the game display, the game controller programmed to: (a) randomly determine a game outcome; (b) control the game display to display an arrangement of symbols on the game display that represents the game outcome; and (c) if the game outcome is a winning outcome, control the game display to: (i) allocate one or more symbols to a plurality of spaces on a game board; (ii) indicate one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; (iii) allocate an award for the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; (iv) clear the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; (v) redistribute the remaining symbols on the game board; (vi) indicate any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and (vii) allocate an award for the any secondary winning combinations of symbols.
 12. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the game controller is programmed to repeat the steps of clearing the winning combination of symbols and redistributing the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed.
 13. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein a winning combination of symbols comprises adjacent matching symbols.
 14. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the game controller is programmed to individually highlight each winning combination of symbols.
 15. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the game controller is programmed to redistribute the symbols according to predetermined rules.
 16. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the game controller is programmed to redistribute the symbols by cascading the remaining symbols downwards into any available spaces.
 17. The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein an award for a primary winning combination may be different to an award for a secondary winning combination.
 18. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) means for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game; (B) means for randomly determining a game outcome; (C) display means for: (a) displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of spaces on a game board; (b) indicating one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; (c) clearing the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; (d) redistributing the remaining symbols on the game board; and (e) indicating any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and (D) means for awarding a prize to the player that correlates to the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols and any secondary winning combinations of symbols.
 19. The gaming apparatus of claim 18 comprising game controller means for controlling the display means.
 20. The gaming apparatus of claim 19 wherein the game controller means controls the display means to redistribute the symbols according to predetermined rules.
 21. The gaming apparatus of claim 19 wherein the game controller means controls the display repeat the clearing of winning combinations of symbols and redistribute the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed. 